Arab-German Business Forum in Berlin, Germany

A business delegation from the Kingdom of Bahrain led by HE Kamal bin Ahmed, Minister of Transportation & Acting Chief Executive of the Bahrain Economic Development Board, and Dr Esam Abdullah Fakhro, Chairman of the Bahrain Chamber of Commerce and Industry, arrived in Berlin, Germany today to join the 16th Arab-German Business Forum. Bahrain is the official partner country for the annual forum that brings together high level political and economic delegations from Germany and across the GCC.

At the event, the Bahrain delegation will engage in talks with German officials and private sector business leaders. Members of the delegation will also participate in high level panel discussions that consider the future of Arab-German business cooperation, including specialist areas such as security, ICT, logistics, construction, infrastructure and megaprojects, financial services, insurance and women in business.

Germany is one of Bahrain’s most important trading partners and the most important in the EU. Trade between the two countries totalled US$542 million in 2011 and is continuing to grow. Bahrain is also home to more than 50 German businesses, such as, BASF, RMA, DHL, Hannover Re and Siemens, many of which use Bahrain as a platform to access the wider GCC market.

HE Kamal bin Ahmed said: “Since the first Arab-German Forum sixteen years ago the global economy has undergone dramatic upheaval. However, throughout that time, the economic and business relationship between Germany and Arab countries has grown in importance. Bahrain now acts as a strategic platform for German investors to access the US$1.4 trillion GCC market.

“We in Bahrain highly value our relationship with Germany as one of our most important trading partners, as an investor and as a destination for our exports.”

The Bahrain Economic Development Board (EDB) is a dynamic public agency with an overall responsibility for attracting inward investment into Bahrain, and is focusing on target economic sectors in which the Kingdom offers significant strengths.

Key areas of focus include manufacturing, ICT, and logistics and transport services as well as other sub-sectors. The Financial Services sector in Bahrain is particularly strong and the EDB supports in the continuing growth of the banking industry and key sub-sectors, including Islamic Finance, Asset Management, Insurance and Re-Insurance.

For more information on the Bahrain EDB visit www.bahrainedb.com; for information about Bahrain visit www.bahrain.com